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Nov. 15, 1927. 1,649,746

w. A. c. SCHLUETER GRA ITY BALANCE Filed Oct. 20, 192 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WW9. (a. saaueuev ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. A. C. SCHLUETER GRAVITY BALANCE Filed Oct. 20. 1926 mvENTbR Wm. H C- ATTORNEY Nov. 15, 192 7.

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Nov. 15, 192 7.

W. A. C. SCHLUETER GRAVITY BALANCE 3 SheetsgSheet 3 ,9 Filed Oct. 20. 1926 INVENTOR uufl. 51.0 Sdhlueber ATTOR NEY Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT orricef.

WILLIAM A. C. SCHLUETEB, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA, ASSZGNOR TO THE REFINERY SUPI'LY COMPANY, 01 TULSA, OKLAHOIVIA, A CORPORATION OF OKLAHOMA.

GRAVITY BALANCE.

Application, filed; Oetober,20,- 1926. Serial No; 143,004.

This invention relates to improvements in gas balances or displacers and is vespecially designed and adapted for use in determining the specific gravity of gases.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which whilebeing portable provides a'very accuratebalance.

Another object is to provide a device of this character wherein the balance mechanism may be easily and readilyadjustable to obtain an accurate balancewithout removing the balance mechanismv from the casing. Along with this advantage, .the balance mechanism may be locked against movement when-the device is not, in use or when, it s being transported, whereby the j device 15 made portable-without danger of in ury thereto. Y 1

A further .object of the invention is to provide a balance mechanism which is to be suspended as to eliminate friction at its point of suspension. I V A still further object is to. provide a vdevice of this character wherein the balance mechanism is adjustable to regulate sensitivity, forming a feature especially desirable when the balance is used. upon. extremely rare or very densegases; All of. the ad ustments are madeffrom the ext elfior of the machine without necessitating, the removal of any of themajor parts.

Another object is to provide for the ready disJharge of all of the gases from the casing of the balance after the test has been made for which it; employs removable purging tubes adapted to bereadily cleaned, when cleaning is desired. 1

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is of simple and durable construction, reliable and accurate in operation, designed to resist acid or corrosive action of the gases or impurities. therein and susceptible of manufacture from materials and by means ordinarily available.

In carrying out the present invention, a novel form of balance mechanism carrying an air tight float or displaceris Suspended within a suitable casing having removable end caps, the end caps when applied provide a gas tight container and when removed a (ilitatc the discharge of the gas and making possible adjustments of the balance mechanism. The gas is supplied to the interior of the casing through purging tubes which are removable to facilitate cleaning thereof..

The balance mechanism is suspended witliin the casing in such a. manner as to eliminate friction at the point of suspension and this is accomplished by mounting the'meinbers of the balance frame on a tension spring, the tension being regulated by a pair of spreaders extending between the. framemembers of the balance oneach side ,of;tlie suspension spring. .Theframe members of, the balance consists of longitudinal; rods "which are resilient or elastictmsorne extent and 4 which have posts or strutsassociatedjlthemwith and organized with truss wires ezitending over the struts and connected totherods adjacent the ends of the rods, atleast} one end of each truss wire has an adjustabl eiconnection with its rod, controllablefrom,.the exterior so that the center of gravity maybe raised or lowered by varying this connection and consequently varying the tension of r the truss wires and the extent to whichthe-rods I or frame-members of the balance are flexed. It is at one end of this balance member, that the air tight float is mounted the float being supported at both ends on the frame'members of the balance. The opposite end Of the balance I carries adjustable count'erwe iglit s which may be adjusted from .the' exteriorf to adj ust the center of gravity 'forw'ard or backward of the balance and thereby obtain an accurate and true balance without the necessity of removing. the balance mechanism frorn the case. In conjunction with the as mg a manometer or mercury column 18 provided for the purpose of gaugingthe pressure in the case. It is to be understoodof course, that the balance carries a pointer or index which travels across a dial of a scale viewable from the exterior so that the specific ravity of the'gas beingtested may be readily observed.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the constructions, arrangements and combination 'of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view showing a device crit c-dying the present invention,

Figure 2 is a view in transverse section taken in the plane of line 2 2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a similar view on line 3-3 of Figure 4,

Figure 4 is a view in longitudinal section on line 14 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a. similar view on line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a view of the device in end elevation,partly in section,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of one end of the casing and illustrating the counterweights of the balance and associated parts,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in section showing how the float or displacer at one end of the balance is locked or held against movement,

Figure 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure'lO' is a fragmentary detail view partly inisection and partly in elevation il- "l'ustratingtlie-sl'i'ding sleeve construction for varyingthe tension-of the truss wires,

Figure11- i'sa fragmentary detail View partly"'in",section and partly: in elevation showing how the index or -pointer is connect- 'ed up with the balance, Figure-'12 'is a fragment-ary detail view partly in section and: partly in elevation showing how'tlie struts or' posts are mounted on the rods o'r'frame membe'rs of the bal- Figure .1-3 is'asectional'view oniline t l--13 ofFig r'e 12," i '5 Figure 14 is a sectional view on line 'H-'t-t 'of Figure 13., and

*F1gure'15' is" a'detail perspective view showing the connecting "means employed for 'mount-in'g the balance frame on the casing. Referring to thedrawings, the numerat'l designates -g'enerally a casing, said casing comprising a cylindrical body) having integral out-turned flanges 3 at its ends. End pieces or endplates tare fixed to the flanges 3 inany suitable"mannergjas by means of bol'ts'or n'uts 5. Packing means such as a gasket dis-positioned between the flanges 3 and plates 4 to provide a tight joint. The plates i have outwardly extending annular flanges? which are externally threaded to coact with internally. threaded flanges 8. provided on removable end cups 9. Ruhbergaskets are provided between the caps f) andthe fianges 10 to afi'ord a gas tight fitting between these parts. The end plates 1 carry a'pair of supporting rods 11, the ends of the supporting rods extending through openings provided therefor through end plates and having cap nuts 12 threaded thereon whereby the rods are clamped in place. The rods may be suitably packed it this is found desirable or necessary. These rods 11 are braced and strengthened to pro-ride a supporting frame by means of cross mein cent their ends in which the rods 11 are tightly fitted.

On the supporting franieconstituted by the side members and cross members 13, a balance designated generally at 15 is suspended. The balance 15 comprises a pair of frame members 16 preferably formed of metal rods. The rods 16 are rigidly connected with the ends of a suspension spring 17, this spring 17 being a blade spring extending transversely of the rods and having its center portion clamped in a recess 18 provided therefor in a clamping block or con necting piece 20. One of theparts 20 of the clamping block 20 is integrally formed with a mounting plate 21 having a pin 22 which is secured in an opening 23 provided therefor in one of the cross members I3 of the" supporting frame. The other part of the block 20 is designated at 20 andzis clamped to the part 20 by means of clamping screws 25.

The tension of the suspension springl? 30. A collar 32 is fixed'ateuchcross'piece 31 and is provided withbpenings adapted to'coact with a pin or other suitable tool to facilitate turning the tool'bf the-cross pieces and the spreading or. drawing together of the side rods of the balance. On at least one head at each side'ot the l'aa'lance a vertically extending strut 33 is' mounted the lower end of the strut being threaded into 't'he head. a The upper end of'eaeh strut is grooved as at 33 to receive intermediate portions of a truss wire One end 01". each truss wire 3-1 is fixed to'i'ts side rod 16 by means of a connecting piece 35 and the other end' of each trusswire has an adjustable connection with its side rod 16, this adjustable connection being preferably effected in each instance by means of a sleeve 36 slidably mounted on its rod 16 and having a flange 37 at one end, around which it's truss wire is looped, the flange. 37 having notches. 37. receiving the strands of the loop. It will be noted by referring to Figured that the sleeves 36 are transversely alined. A cross bar 37 extends between these sleeves and has its ends received on the sleeves and held thereto by nuts 38. Means is provided for shifting the cross bar 3? and consequent ly the sleeves 3t; bacl: and forth to vary tension of the truss wires and this means preferably comprises a channel bar 39 having openings adjacent its ends receiving the reduced extensions 16 of the rods 16 and held on such extensions by the nuts 40. The in termediate portion of this channel bar 39 has openings therein through which threaded shanks 41 of the adjusting screws 42 extend, the screws 42 having heads 43 bearing against the channel bar. The threaded shanks 41 oi the screws have threaded engagement with the nuts 44 mounted on the bar 37. \Vith this construction, when the screws 42 are turned in one direction, they draw the bar 37 towards the channel bar 39 and increase the tension of the truss wires.

Turningthe screws 42 in the opposite direction permits the bar 37 to move away from the bar 39 under the influence of the tensioned truss wires and thereby decrease the tension of said wire. At one end of the side rod 16, a displacer 0r float in the form of a hollowiair tight container is provided, the float being carried. by attaching pieces 51' located at both ends thereof, the attaching pieces being fastened to the float or displacer and. being secured to the side rods 16. In order that this float or displacer will rise or fall in the gas in accordance with the density of the gas, it is necessary to counterweight the same and this is ac compli'shedby mounting an externally threaded stud 52 on the channel bar 39 by means of nuts 53'. on this stud 52, a plurality of disc like weights 54:: are threadedly mounted, By turning the Weights 54 they are shifted along the stud- 52 toward and away from the point-of suspension of the balance. In this way atrue and accurate balance may be had, since by moving the weights 5.4, the center of gravity of the balance is shifted'back and forth. The stud 52 is also utilized to carry the index or pointer 60, the indexer pointer being clamped thereon as shown atfil in Figure 11. This index or-pointer coacts with a dial 62 mounted on one of the end pieces 4 behind the transparent pane 9. ofthe adjacent end cap 9.

Means is provided for releasably locking the balance against movement when the device is not in useand is being transported. It is to be understood that in this way the device is made truly portable since handling will not tend to injure the sensitivity ot'thebalance mechanism. This locking is provided; by means oftwo locking bars designated at 6566. The locking bar 65 is located at the forward end of the device and is fastened as by means of removable screws 67 to the end plate 4 at the forward end of the machine. Centrally this locking bar 65 has an opening in which the extremity 52 of the stud 52 is fitted. The locking bar 66 is secured to the end plate 4 at the rearward end of the device by readilv removable cap screws 68 and it has a number of openings 69 therein which receive the projections of pins 70 fastened to the float 50 or to the attaching piece 51 by which the float is supported on the frame of the balance.

End pieces or end plates at have bosses T0 east integrally therewith or otherwise suitably connected and the bosses extending downwardly from the pieces having internally threaded screws engaging internally threaded legs 71, said legs 71 having knurled nuts intermediate their ends whereby the same may be turned. By providing vertically adjustable legs of this type, the entire device may be levelled thereby insuring accurate balance and accurate results. A level may be used in conjunction with the device if found desirable.

For the purpose of conducting the gas into the interior of the casing, a pair of purging tubes are provided. The tubes having their inner ends closed as at 81 and having the portion thereof which lie in the casing perforated as at 82. The tubes having releasable threaded connection with the forward end plate 4, such connection being preferably had by threading portions of the tubes into internally threaded openings in the end plates. Locking nuts 83 are preferably provided to secure the purging tubes into the end plate 4 on which they, are mounted. Beyond these locking nuts 83. the tubes 80 have corrugated nipples 84 defined to receive a hose connection or the like.

In order that the pressure of the gas within the casing may be accurately known and determined at all times, a monometer or 1118b cury column 85 is provided and as shown in Figure l is adapted to-communicate with the interior of the casing through a casting 86.

The device when not in use has its bal ancemechanism rigidly locked against movement by provision of the locking bars Gal-66. When the device is .to be used these locking bars are removed by first removing the end caps and then taking out the screws which secure the bars in position. The cap on the rearward end of the machine is then replaced and the index 61 is brought to register with the zero of the dial by turning the. weights 54 back and forth along the stud 52. This is easily done by inserting the finger or hand through the opening a fi'orded at the forward end of the machine when the forward cap is off. The front cap is then replaced and the mercury column is attached to the top of the case. The casing is now entirely filled with the gas to he tested by introducing the gas through one of the purging tubes 80 and leaving the other purging tube open until air has been displaced from the casing. Then the other purging tube is closed to the atmospherev and pressure is exerted on the casing until the float again reads zero on the scale. Of course it is to be understood that when the device is first filled with gas without subjecting the gas to pressure that the index will rise or fall away from the Zero mark on the scale. After the index has been brought back to Zero on the scale by exerting pressure on the. as described, the pressure .that exists Within the casing and which is shown on the mercury column is noted. The inchesin pressure are added to the barometric pressure taken from a barometer and the vacuum inches are taken from the barometric pressure and one divided into the other to obtain the: specific gravity of the gas just tested. A check on the reading may be made by balancing the float while in the gas and filling the casing afterwards with air and then exerting a vacuum or suction on the-air until it is as rarefied as the gas, which conditions can be determined by observing the pointer or index which registers on zero on the scale, when such a condition is obtained. The method of obtaining the specific gravity can thenbe reversed.

' he device is adjustable for sensitivity by raising the center of gravity with truss wires. In other words'by adjustin the screws 42, the tension of -the truss-wires is varied and the flexion' of the rods of the balance. frame are varied. :This is not necessary in testing ordinary gases, bnt is a very desirable feature-in testing gases that are-extremely rare or very dense. 1 v

' The-device is lacquered inside and out to prevent corrosion. from the acids or' impurities in the'gas. This dOGSiIOfi apply tohthe suspensionsspring orthe' truss wires, which are gold pla'ted for protection against colrosion. The truss'wires may be tensioned to deflect the float or balance so as to posit on the center of gravity at a pointunder, at, or over the point of suspension. By setting these truss members; the act of the sprin is compensated' for thereby making possib e the use of the spring pivot andeliminating friction; r 1 Iclaim: v I

1. A specific gravity balancecom'prising a casing having removable-end caps, aha-lance frame mounted within the casing, a float connected with one end-of the frame and adjust able counterweights at'the opposite end of the frame, said adjustablecounterweightg being adjustable from the exterior when the adjacent end cap is removed.

2. A specific gravity balance c'omprising'a gas tight casing, supporting means within the casing. a balance frame including a pair of side rods. :1 float carried by said side rods at one end thereof, a suspension spring mounted on the supporting means and having its ends connected with the side rods, counterweights mounted on the side rods on the opposite side of the spring from the the casin at one end thereof, a. suspension'spring mounted on the supporting means and havmg its end connected with the side rods,

'eount'erweights mounted on the side rods on the opposite side of the spring. from the float, said slde rods having-posts extending from intermediate portions thereof, truss wires extending over the posts, and connections between the ends ofthe truss-wiresand the end. portions of the side rods,- at least one of said connections :of each wire being'adjustable and comprising asliding sleeve mounted on each sideirod and engaging with anend of its truss wires-and means 'for::1n'oving the sleeve back and forth and holding it in adjusted'positionr y i v 4. .A specific gravity balance comprising a gas tight casing and balance mechanism in a pointer carried 7 by the balance niechanis mg a scale with'v which'rthefz'poi-nter cooperates, and a manometer-mounted on the cz'isl'n'g, the manometer communicating 'w1th the interior of the casing whereby the-pressure of the-gas within said casing may be know'n and determined: at'all times.

5. A specific gravity: balanceicom'prisinga casing having removable endi plates, supporting rods extending between and secu red to the endpla-tes-and Iocatedwithin the easing, cross members extending between: the supporting rods, a balan'cingframe including a pair of side rods, a suspension spring extending between and-securedto-the side rods and supportedion one of the cross members, a' pair of Spreaders cooperating with the side rode on the opposite side of the spring, posts on=-the side'rods, truss-wires extending over the posts and connected to the side rods, a float connected to one end of the side rods-,counterweights at) the opposite ends of the side rods, a pointer shifted with the balancing frame, and a: disc with which thepointercoacts rl 6; A specific gravity balance comprising agas tight casing having removable or tions, balance mechanism located within the said casing and means'for locking the balance mechanism against movement, said means being accessible from the exterior when said removable portions are removed.

7. A specific gravity balance comprising a casing having removable end caps, sup porting means within the casing, a balance frame suspended on the supporting means,

anism,- a scale with which the pointer cooperates, and removable purging tubes carried by the casing and projecting into the 4 interior thereof.

9. A specific gravity balance comprising a casing, supporting means within the casing, a tension spring mounted on the supporting means, a balancing frame having side members mounted on the tension spring, adjustable spreaders extending between and connected to the side members on the opposite side of the spring, a displacer mounted on the side members on one side of the spring, counterweights mounted on the frame on the ot-herside of the spring, an index shiftable with the balancing frame and a scale with which the index coacts.

10. In a device of the character described, a balance comprising an elongated frame having flexible side members, a pivot for the frame, and adjustable means for flexing the side frame members and thereby change the center of gravity of the frame with respect to its pivot.

11. In a device of the character described, a balance comprising an elongated frame having flexible side members, a pivot for the frame intermediate its ends, truss wires extending longitudinally of the frame, and means for adjustably tensioning the truss wires whereby thecenter of gravity of the frame with respect to its pivot may be varied.

12. An apparatus of the character described, comprising an elongated container, a balance arranged longitudinally within the container, and pivoted at a point intermediate its ends, a pointer at one end of balance adapted to move transversely of the associated end of container, and a scale carried by the last named end of container adapted to cooperate with the pointer to show position of the balance.

13. In an apparatus of the character 'described, a balance comprising an elongated frame having flexible side members, a pivot support intermediate the side members of frame, spring arms extending from the sup port and secured to the side members for pivoting the frame, and means whereby said side frame members may be flexed laterally for controlling the tension of said spring arms.

WILLIAM A. C. SCHLUETER. 

